Prime mover



Aug. 24, 1943.

F. A. FARRAR PRIME MOVER Filed octlso, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor A? v W fifrrwr 1943. F. A. F ARRAR 2,327,409

- PRIME MOVER Filed Oct. 50, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /8 I n ventor Z Zy A-jkrrar WWW a;

Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITEDISTATES PATENT orrice Application October so, 1942, Serial No; 463,967

2 Claims. (01.253 56) 3 This invention relates to an improved prime mover or compressed air motor adapted'to do useful work such as propelling vehicles, airships, projectiles, and the like.

Stated more specifically, the preferred embodiment of the invention is more in the nature of a rotary air motor of such consolidated and structurally concentrated form as will function to provide a powerful sourceof manually and mechanically regulated power as may be needed for various propulsion purposes.

In reducing to practice the preferred embodiment of the inventive concept, I have adopted for use a shaft propelling rotor, said rotor embodying a multiplicity of abutments and coacting air projecting nozzles, said nozzles being connected with a compressed air chamber and having associated therewith conveniently and reliably operable valving means, whereby to provide a structural assemblage aptly fitted to,

accomplish the desired aims and purposes.

Another object is the provision of a relatively simple and economical compressed air motor characterized by strength and durability and ca pable of producing a source of powerful energy making it possible for a comparatively small apparatus to perform heavy duty results.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view on the line l-l of Figure 2 through the compressed air motor constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, part appearing in section and elevation to depict the essential structural parts thereof.

Figure 2 is a transverse or cross-sectional view of the structure seen in Figure 1, the section being on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail sectional view of one of the air delivery nozzles and the associated valving means therefor.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through one of the valve guides showing the slidable valve plate therein.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the slidable or reciprocatory valve plate.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional and elevational view of the header ring on which the valve plates are mounted for simultaneous actuation.

Figure '7 is a detail view of the operating yoke for said header ring, or annulus.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, it will be seen that the main or body portion of the structure i essentially characterized by an inner horizontal cylinder 9 surrounded by a spaced parallel outer cylinder l0. The intervening space between said parts 9 and i5 constitutes a compressed air receiving andstoring chamber I i. This main structure is supported on an appropriate base 52, as shown to advantage in Figures 1 and 2. The numeral l3 designates a pipe attachedat a suitable point to the outer shell or cylinder H! which is adapted to supply compressed air of predetermined capacity to the chamber 1 i. In practice this pipe [3 is connected with an air compresser (not shown) and appropriate valving means, preferably automatic, is generally used to let air into the chamber H when the pressure therein. is reduced, by use, toa predetermined low state. The numeral 54 designates an appropriate pressure blow-off or relief valve. As brought out to advantage in Figure 3, the inner cylindrical shell or rotor 'housing 9 is provided on its interior with a multiplicity of angularly canted tapered tubes i5 hereinafter referred to as nozzles. The outer ends of these nozzles register with ports H3 in the embossedor raised valve guide 11. In this valve guide there is a slidable valve plate 18 having apertures 19 to register' with the ports and intake ends of the respective nozzles l5. Observing the nozzle assembly, it will be noted that each annular row comprises circumferentially spaced nozzles. And there are any number of annular rows of nozzles extending the full length of the rotor housing 9, as brought out to advantage in Figures 1 and 2. There are also valve guides and slide valves ar ranged to correspond with the sets or rows of nozzles for effective air regulation and control. In addition, and between the two housings 9 and Hi, I provide equidistant, circumferentially spaced, longitudinally elongated exhaust ducts 20. These serve to deliver the exhausted or used air from the rotor housing 9 to the disposal exhaust manifold 21 mounted on the exterior of the outer shell or housing ID. This provides for equalized exhausting of used air and disposal thereof to the outside atmosphere. The mamfolds 2| have suitable connections through the necks 22 to the respective or adjacent exhaust ducts 20.

The disk-like end plates 23 and 24 serve to close the opposite ends of said housing 9. These plates are provided with appropriate bearings 25 and 2S to accommodate the shafts at the opposite ends of the multiple pocketed rotor or impeller 21. The shaft 28 may be denoted as the power takeoff shaft, this to be connected with the device adapted to be driven from said rotary impeller. This rotor is made up of a plurality of longitudinally spaced disks 29 with radial, circumferentially spaced abutments 30 therebetween. The abutments and intervening pockets 3! are adapted to receive the pressured air jets from the coacting nozzles in an obvious manner. Operation of the valves is, of course, is such as to be able to cut off the air or regulate the intensity of flow from the chamber 1 l into the rotor housing, as is obvious. The valve assembly includes an annulus or push-pull ring 32 with which the outer ends of the valves connect, as indicated at 33 and 34, in Figure 4. In addition, there is an operating yoke 35, which yoke is connected to diametrically opposite points of the ring, said yoke being in turn actuated by a control lever 35 pivotally mounted-on an adapter bracket 3?.

In practice, and as perhaps apparent from the drawings and description so far covered, the motive force is air pressure, and this comes from an appropriate air compressor which delivers the air through the pipe l3 into the receiving and.

storage chamber H. When the valves l8 are ad justed to open the ports l6, the air rushes into the chamber surrounded by the rotor casing G, finding its way through the medium of the concentrating nozzlesv 15. The air emitted under pressure from thesenozzles impinges on the impeller blades or abutments 35% Thus, the rotor, as a unit, is set into motion to drive the power take-off shaft 28. Excessive air pressure is taken care of by way of the automatic relief valve M. The exhaust is taken care of by Way of the circumferentially spaced ducts 2!! communicating with the external disposal manifolds 2 L; And, as is obvious, the lever 36 serves to actuate the ring 32 and the ring serves to operate the valves simultaneously. I

A careful consideration of the foregoing de-' scription in conjunction with the invention as illustrated in the drawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding and impression of the alleged features of merit and novelty sufficient to clarify the construction of the invention as hereinafter'claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, 'materials and surrounding the outer housing and having communicating connection with said ducts, said inner housing being provided on its exterior with longitudinally extending valve guides, valves slidable in said guides, said inner housing being further provided with a'multiplicity of internal angularly disposed air delivery nozzles, and a rotor mounted for rotation in said inner housing, said rotor includi-ng a multiplicity of radial abutments carried by adjoining disks, said abutments and disks defining V -shaped pockets and said nozzles being in alignment with said pockets in the manner and for the purposes described.

2. In an air motor of the class described, an outer cylindrical shell constituting a housing and provided with a relief valve and a compressed air supply pipe, an inner concentric cylindrical housing, the housings being joined at their outer ends, longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced, equidistant exhaust ducts connmting said housings together, exhaust disposal manifolds surrounding the outer housing and having communicating connection with said ducts, said inner housing bein provided on its exterior with longitudinally extending valve guides, valves slidable in said guides, said inner housing being further provided with a multiplicity of internal angularly disposed air delivery nozzles, and a rotor mounted for rotation in said inner housing, said rotor including a multiplicity of radial abutments carried by adjoining disks, said abutments and disks defining V-shaped pockets and said nozzles being in alignment with said pockets in the manner and for the purposes described, together with a single shifter ring, the valves being connected at their outer ends to said ring, a yoke attached to said ring for operating the same, and a lever for operating the yoke as described.

FAY A. FARRAR. 

